Orange, Cacao, Coconut and Macadamia (Jaffa) Butter

by Michelle on September 22, 2010 · 20 comments

in Healthy Desserts

Want a delicious-yet healthy recipe alternative to sugar-laden conventional chocolate spreads? Well here is a chocolate spread for the health and taste conscious! It’s really easy to make and all you need is a food processor or if you don’t have one, you can substitute macadamia butter for macadamias (much easier to process to a smooth consistency). I’ve added orange zest to the recipe to give the butter a ‘jaffa’ taste.  This recipe is also dairy-free, gluten-free, sugar free and vegan.

How to use (as a special treat) : spread on sourdough toast, pour on ice cream, add to a smoothie, use as a decadent dip for fruit, spread on sprouted wheat crepes, on a sweet breakfast omelette or try using it as icing on a healthy chocolate cake. There are heaps of ways to enjoy this spread.

Notes/Research:

Cacao is rich in flavanols [source] and is a source of caffeine [source] which may affect those who are sensitive to it. Cacao’s flavanols may possibly have a positive affect on inflammatory diseases [source, source].

Virgin coconut oil may have a beneficial effect on “lowering lipid levels in serum and tissues and LDL oxidation by physiological oxidants. This property of VCO may be attributed to the biologically active polyphenol components present in the oil”. [source]

Macadamia nuts are a source of monounsaturated fatty acids and have been shown to reduce total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol [source].

Orange, Cacao, Coconut and Macadamia (Jaffa) Butter

Ingredients:

  • a handful of macadamias or around 4 tablespoons of macadamia butter
  • 3 T. of cacao powder (unsweetened) or carob powder
  • 1 t. orange zest
  • 1 heaped T. coconut butter
  • 1 T.  honey or a few drops of stevia (optional)

How to:

If using a food processor: Process macadamias in a food processor until smooth. Add the cacao powder, zest, coconut butter and sweetener if desired. Mix again until smooth. Store in a glass jar in the fridge. It will harden in the fridge so you may need to warm it a bit before using.

or

Without a food processor: Mix macadamia butter, cacao powder, zest, coconut butter and sweetener together in a bowl until it has a smooth consistency. Store in a glass jar in the fridge.

Enjoy!

I shared this post at Real Food Wednesday, Pennywise Platter, Fight Back Fridays, Vegetarian Foodie Fridays

Michelle

Health Food Lover is Michelle Robson-Garth. Michelle is a degree-qualified Naturopath (BHSc) and Massage Therapist. She is also a passionate writer, recipe-creator and all-round foodie from Melbourne, Australia. © Copyright: 2009-2012 Michelle Robson-Garth. Please ask permission first when using any text or images on healthfoodlover.com. Read the disclaimer here. Have a look at the recipe index for more health food lovin’ recipes. Join the Facebook page & follow Health Food Lover on twitter.

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{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }

April@The 21st Century Housewife September 22, 2010 at 2:56 pm

I really enjoyed this post. Your cacao butter sounds wonderful – I love macadamias and combining them with all those other lovely ingredients must make for a real treat!

Reply

Tiffany@ The Coconut Mama September 22, 2010 at 5:54 pm

Oh my! This looks so delicious. I want to jump through my computer screen and eat this up. I WILL be making this very soon. I just need to make some coconut butter =)

Thanks for the recipe!

Reply

Michelle September 22, 2010 at 11:23 pm

Thanks Tiffany. It is so yummy! I love your method to make coconut butter! I need to find some good dried coconut and make some coconut butter like that!

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healy September 23, 2010 at 9:14 am

This recipe sounds delicious! I love all the healthy ingredients =)

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InkblotAU September 23, 2010 at 1:09 pm

@LoverHealthFood I’m doomed, I thought nutella was healthy. Haha.

Reply

LoverHealthFood September 23, 2010 at 11:16 pm

@InkblotAU I WISH nutella was healthy, alas it isn’t.

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Magda September 23, 2010 at 5:00 pm

Michelle, this looks yum! I make something similar all the time with just coconut butter, cocoa powder and agave. Mix it up and it is a delicious chocolate ganache. Or we use coconut oil instead of the butter and it makes a great hard chocolate coating, say for making chocolate-dipped strawberries. Or instead we use olive oil and it is so much better than hershey’s syrup for pouring on banana splits. The possibilities are endless!

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Katie September 23, 2010 at 7:07 pm

I just made some chocolate spread similar to this a few days ago!

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Katey (Bonne Santé) September 24, 2010 at 6:01 am

I love how you included (as a special treat) in brackets, because I would surely eat the entire batch if I made this! Looks so delicious; orange & macadamia = heavenly!

Reply

alutzu @ CornerParadise September 25, 2010 at 2:49 pm

very easy ingredients…looks so good

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SamRx Health Blog September 28, 2010 at 10:01 am

Hi i like that recipe its looks very nice. Thanks for share that recipe i really try that recipe at my home. Thanks again.

Reply

Josh Delcore swimming September 29, 2010 at 6:00 pm

Yummy…..! It’s looking very tasty. I will try this recipe at home.

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Liberty September 29, 2010 at 7:58 pm

Looks DIVINE!!
LIB

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Melodie September 30, 2010 at 2:21 am

Oh my goodness that looks wonderful! I’ve never thought of doing something like this but I now have a few of my own ideas I’d like to try. Thanks for posting this at Vegetarian Foodie Fridays!

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Michelle September 30, 2010 at 4:18 am

Thanks Mel. I’m glad it inspired you! I’d love to see what you come up with! Thanks for hosting Vegetarian Foodie Fridays!

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Sarah Labdar October 6, 2010 at 3:36 am

Mmmmm! This looks so delicious especially for chocolate lovers. And its nutritious for you. Cacao is also a great antioxidant!

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Michelle October 6, 2010 at 8:06 pm

Thanks Sarah.

Reply

Edwin October 7, 2010 at 6:50 am

thank you for the explanation..i have already bookmarked your blog..

Reply

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